The punishers: Blackhawks, Phoenix series gets physical

April 17, 2012|RedEye

Before Tuesday's Game 3 between the Blackhawksand Phoenix even began, fans on both sides of the suddenly intense series had plenty to chew on.

Hawks winger Andrew Shaw's punishment finally was going to be revealed in the wake of his Saturday night hit on Phoenix goalie Mike Smith. As the day dragged on, however, the NHL was silent on the matter. Blackhawks fans were not pleased with the delay.

Finally, in the late afternoon, the verdict came down: Shaw was suspended three games.

The general Blackhawks fan consensus was the punishment was too harsh, considering it looked as if Shaw tried to at least partially avoid contact with Smith.

But what's done is done. And in the spirit of taking control of what has turned into a rough-and-tumble start to the Stanley Cup Playoffs across the board, RedEye decided to hand out punishments of our own for various infractions.

FIRST PERIOD

Brandon Bollig

In a game bound to be tightly officiated, it wasn't smart of Bollig to grab Phoenix's Kyle Chipchura from behind and put him in a choke-hold. The resulting roughing penalty gave the Coyotes several good looks at the goal, but Corey Crawford made at least two spectacular save to keep Phoenix off the scoreboard. Tsk, tsk Bollig.

PUNISHMENT: Watch Brendan Shanahan's video explaining Shaw's suspension on a loop for 12 hours. He'll never do it again.

Officials

On what was an obvious illegal hit on Marian Hossa courtesy of Raffi Torres, who left his feet to hit Hossa's head, the resulting calls hand the Coyotes a power play. Really.

After his vicious, unpenalized hit on Hossa in the first period, you might think Torres would lay low the rest of the game, but you'd be wrong. In the second period, he deliberately tripped Viktor Stalberg by extending his left leg under his skates. Oh, and Torres would be called for a penalty on this one.

PUNISHMNET: Foreced retirement.

Derek Morris

In another cheap-ish shot, Morris shoves Marcus Kruger in the back at the Coyotes goal after Smith makes a save on a Brent Seabrook blast. Morris was penalized, but at this point that's not enough.

PUNISHMENT: Take the Greyhound back to Glendale, Ariz. In a seat next to the restroom.

SECOND PERIOD SCORE: Still 1-0.

INTERMISSION

Charles Tillman

During "Shoot the Puck," the Chicago Bear reached the final round and delivered three ugly, ugly shots on goal. It was hard to watch, and the United Center crowd didn't take it easy on him.

PUNISHMENT: Tillman on postgame laundry duty—with a washboard and tub of water.

THIRD PERIOD

Everyone on the ice

After a flurry of three goals in just over minute, the Blackhawks and Coyotes head to overtime tied at 2, making this the third overtime in three playoff games. Our hearts aren’t going to stand this intensity.

PUNISHMENT: Pay for fans’ health care.

THIRD PERIOD SCORE: 2-2. Michael Frolik scores for the Blackhawks.

OVERTIME

Patrick Kane, Corey CrawfordKane had the puck right before Phoenix scored the game-winning goal, skated a bit with it in front of the Coyotes net, didn’t shoot, then lost it. Mikkel Boedker ended up with it, then snuck the puck in from the side of the goal. It was a soft goal for an otherwise stellar night in net for Crawford.